College is a great time to explore new interests and try different things. What better way to do this, then to take a Spring Term course! Known as a Jan-Term or Flex-Term at other universities, UIndy's Spring Term follows a similar concept: For a short term (usually three weeks), students can take a course that is usually not offered during the rest of the academic year and receive credit for it. UIndy's three-week session typically occurs just as the school year draws to a close, with classes ending in the first week of May, and the Spring Term happening in the remaining three weeks of that month.
Aside from the fact that all UIndy students are expected to take at least one Spring Term course before graduating, here are 5 other reasons to consider this great opportunity:
1. It's tuition free
Worried that spring term will mean paying additional costs for tuition and housing? Don't sweat it! If you were enrolled full-time during both semesters of the academic year, do not have an unpaid balance with the University, and have never enrolled in spring term before, you will not be expected to pay tuition. Travel courses do not charge tuition. Students are only expected to pay the fee that is listed in the course description, which would mostly cover the cost of your flight.
2. Take a fun class not offered during the school year
The Spring Term courses change every year, depending on what the faculty feel like teaching, and of course, student interest. During the traditional academic year, you would not be able to take a class where you can earn academic credit for, eating lunch and watching foreign films, exploring Indianapolis, learning about the Beat Generation, or doing volunteer work in the city.
3. It's Required
I always tend to tell my admitted students that with Spring Term, you are able to kill two birds with one stone: You get to take a fun class that would otherwise not be available during another part of the year, and you are fulfilling a graduation requirement!
4. Travel Abroad
Our previous blog posts have emphasized that at UIndy, students do their learning inside and outside the classroom. Yet we can't stress this enough, and it is no coincedence that the most popular feature of Spring Term classes is that some of them involve overseas travel or some other out-of-classroom experience. Of course, we would never require students to go abroad if they don't want to, which is why the course list for spring term usually has on-campus courses to take as well. For those who feel adventurous and want to travel abroad during spring term though, this year's more popular travel courses and destinations included: Hiroshima Peace Study (Hiroshima and Nagasaki, Japan), Castles, Cathedrals, and Coasts (England and Whales), and Comparative Exploration of the Caribbean (Cuba).
5. Learn something new
So maybe you don't want to travel abroad, or sit in a classroom watching movies all day, but maybe you still want to learn something fun, or want to get in shape. If that's the case, you will be glad to know that there is something for all kinds of interests, such as basic instruction in cycling, learning to paint outdoors, or the art of English Handbell ringing.
To find more about Spring Term and other courses visit the Office of the Registrar, 2012-2013 Spring Term General Information & Course Descriptions.